Join our Children’s Social Services Team: Make a Difference Every Day!

Are you a passionate and dedicated social worker looking to make a real impact? Whether you’re newly qualified or bring years of experience, we want you to join our dynamic Children’s Service Team here at Sefton Council.

Together, we can safeguard the future of our children while ensuring our team thrives in a supportive and professional environment.

At Sefton Council, we are committed to investing in our people. Our vision is to grow and nurture our own talent, creating a strong and professional workforce dedicated to the safety and well-being of children and young people in our communities. Here’s what sets us apart.

• Small Teams, Big Impact; We believe in the power of close-knit teams. Our small team structure ensures you’re never just a number but a valued member whose contributions are recognised, valued and celebrated.
• Manageable caseloads; We understand the importance of work-life balance and the challenges of the social work profession. That’s why we ensure manageable caseloads, allowing you to provide the best possible care and support to those who need it most
• Strong Supervision and Support; Your professional growth and wellbeing are out priorities. With regular, robust supervision and access to continuous professional development opportunities we ensure you have the guidance and resources you need to excel in your role.
• Committed to Excellence; Our commitment to safeguarding children and young people is unwavering. We uphold the highest standards of practice, providing the tools and training necessary to empower you to make a real difference.

If you join Sefton now, you will be part of something exciting and new as we continue our improvement journey.

We currently have several opportunities within our Children’s Help and Advice Team (CHAT) Team for Social Workers.

The children’s help and advice social work role involves screening referrals from partners agencies and members of the public to make informed decisions around potential safeguarding concerns for children, or to identify the support needs for children and families in Sefton.

The role includes being a part of a multi-agency team that includes the Police, Health, IDVA, and the early help practitioners known as our Family Advice Support Team (FAST). This co-located team enables more effective communication and collaboration, ensuring that children and families receive the most appropriate support.

Joining Sefton children’s services team and be part of an exciting, strengths-based approach using the Conversation Model to empower families and protect children. You’ll play a vital role in helping children thrive in a safe, supportive environment. You will use the Conversation Model to engage in meaningful, child-centred conversations as a referral. By having focused conversations concentrating on the strengths of children, young people, and families, you’ll help create lasting, positive outcomes and provide access to the right support at the right time.

You will receive training on the conversation model, and we are looking for social workers with excellent communication and active listening skills. Working in a front door team it is essential to be able to remain calm under pressure and manage competing priorities in the fast-paced environment.

The conversation model places a conversation as the core of social work practice. In CHAT decision-making is viewed as a collaborative process between the social worker and the referrer and our aim is to move away from authoritative decision-making. The Conversation Model encourages workers to engage more deeply with clients' experiences rather than making decisions based solely on minimizing risk. This offers a human centred alternative to a procedural approach, which is based in restorative, relationship-based practice.

Equal Opportunities

Sefton Council strives to ensure that our workforce is inclusive and representative of our communities. A diverse workforce is important to us, our staff bring with them a wide range of experiences, views, ideas, and innovations, and we are committed to providing an environment that recognises, respects, and values everybody’s identity, where individual differences are strengths and where everyone can thrive and maximise their potential. We are always open to learning and growing as an organisation, and we welcome new ideas and initiatives that promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer; all candidates will receive equal treatment. Our decision to appoint will be based upon whether an individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities make them the most suitable candidate for the role.

GUARANTEED INTERVIEW SCHEME

Please note that all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for these jobs (as given in the Person Specification) and who want to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme will be invited to interview.

If you are currently in care or have previously been in care, we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for care experienced people if you meet the essential requirements for the role.